H talboys



Aug. 2, 1955 H. H. TALBoYs PROPELLING UNIT FOR TRCKWORKLNG"p EQUIPMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. '7, 1949 Aug. 2, 1955 H. H. TALBoYs PROPELLING UNIT FOR TRACKWORKING EQUIPMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 7, 1949 United States N Patent '0 2,714,357 l UNIT FOR TRACKwoRKlNG EQUIPMENT Henry H. Talboys, Milwaukee,

`Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin l w PROPELLIN G My invention relates to an improvement in shifting devices for track supported equipment and has for one purpose to provide shifting means whereby the operator of a piece of trackworking equipment mounted on the rails of a track can readily move such equipment along the track by effective application of his own physical force.

Another purpose is to provide a shifting device which may readily be applied to rail supportedtrackworking equipment and which may readily normally beheld withdrawn in inoperative position when not in use.

Another purpose is to provide a shifting device which permits an operator easily and precisely to impart relatively short movements to rail supported trackworking equipment, to position such equipment precisely at desired points.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate the invention more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation with parts broken away;

Wis., assignor to Nordberg Figure 2 is a section on an enlargedscale on the line Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a side elevation with parts in section illustrating the device in a dilerent position; andf` Figure 5 is a section on an enlarged scale on the line 5 5 of Figure 4.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates rail ties supported on any suitable ballast 2 and carrying any suitable track rails 3. Mounted on the rails is illustrated a piece of trackworking equipment, generally indicated as 4, the details of which form no part of the present invention. bers 5, end frame members 6 and flanged rail engaging wheels 7. 8 generally indicates a removable clamp which is shown as secured to one of the end frame members 6. It is shown as including opposed anges 9 and 10, a locking screw 11 and a depending ball or hinge member 12. Socketed or hinged thereto is the hinge element 13 secured to the end of a lever or supporting bar 14. The bar 14 is shown as extending beneath the vehicle 4, between the wheels and extending beyond the opposite end of the vehicle. Secured to the opposite end of the bar 14 is a bracket 15 with a cross member 16. Pivoted to the upper outer end of the bracket, as at 17, is a block 18 to which is secured the lever member 19, with its upwardly extending handle portion 20. Pivoted to the lower end of the lever 19, as at 21, is a tie and road bed engaging plate 22, with a plurality of removable points or spurs 23 extending downwardly from its lower surface. It has a further extension 24 which is of less length and less weight than that part of the plate 22 which is at the opposite side of the pivot 21. Thus when the parts are upwardly withdrawn from contact with the rails or rod part, the outer end of the [t is illustrated as having side frame mem- ICC member 24 may be gravitally swung upwardly into contacting position with the under surface of the bar 14. The parts are normally held in inoperative position. For example, the spring 26 connected to the outer end of the bar 14 by any suitable extension or bail 27 may be adjustably secured to the upwardly extending portion 28 of the vehicle, for example, by the adjustable chain securing means 29. The spring 26 is of suflicient force to raise the above-described structure upwardly away from the road bed or ties, rotating the bar 14 about `its center at 12 until it contacts a bottom portion of the vehicle. The bail 27 is connected to the lever 20 by a second spring 28a which normally tends to hold the levers 19, 20 in the position in which they are shown in Figure 1.

When the operator wishes to move the vehicle forwardly or rearwardly along the track, he simply stands on the plate 22. This forces the plate 22 downwardly against the road bed and, normally, into gripping contact with the upper surfaces of the ties 1. The spurs or points 23 prevent undesired movement of the plate 22 across the ties. The user then grasps the handle 20. If he pushes to the left, referring to the position of the parts in Figure 4, he will advance the vehicle to the left. If he pulls to the right, he will draw the vehicle to the right. in either event, if he wishes further movement, he simply steps olf the plate 22 and permits it to take the upward position to which it is biased by the spring 28. He then stands on it again and imparts a second movement to the vehicle. This succession of movement and release is continued until the vehicle has been moved to the desired point.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and claimed a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to my specific showing herein. For example, the details of the plate and of its connection to the vehicle may be widely varied.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

The user can readily apply the device to a wide variety of trackworking equipment by merely slipping the ilanges 9 and 10 over the opposite sides of an end frame member and then tightening the screw 11. The rod 14 is then secured to the opposite end of the vehicle by securing the chain 29 to any appropriate part thereof. The device can be very quickly applied to a vehicle and removed from it. It is useful, for example, in moving and positioning relatively light trackworking equipment of the type that is used by rail gangs who are working on railroad rails or railway rights-of-way.

The spring 26 is effective normally to hold the parts `upwardly withdrawn from contact with the road bed or ties, but its strength or compression is such that the weight of the operator can easily depress the plate 22 into gripping contact with the ties. The spurs 23, shown in Figure 2, are readily removable from screw-threaded bars 23a at either side. Any desired method of removably attaching them may be employed, or the plate 22 may be removed and replaced as a unit.

I claim:

1. In a shifting device for track supported equipment, a securing abutment adapted for attachment to a wheeled Vehicle, an arm movably secured at one end to said abutment, a ground engaging `element positioned at a point remote from said abutment formed and adapted to be downwardly moved to engage the road bed surface, a lever intermediate the arm and the ground engaging element pivoted both to the arm and the ground enha'racterized in that the said abutment is adjustably srecurablek to the wheeled 3. The -structure of claim l, characterized Vintl-lattina said yielding means is adapted to be removably and adjustably securable to the wheeled vehicle.

4. A shifting device for track-supported vehicles including a track vehicle, a ground-engaging.r operatorsupporting element adaptedto receive andrsupport an operator positioned thereon Vso that the weight of the operator is electiveto hold the Velement against unintended movement, a lever upstanding from said element and pivoted at its lower end thereto, said.V lever including an upwardly extending handle portion positioned Vfor manual actuation byan operator standing on the element, means for pivotally interconnecting an intermediate portion of the lever with said vehicle and a yielding connection Vbetween. the vehicle and the interconnecting means adapted normally to elevate the ground-engaging element from contact with the ground. v

5. A propulsion device for a track-supported vehicle including a track vehicle, a ground-engagingy element adapted to receive and support an operator thereon, whereby the weight of the operator is effective to hold said element against unintended movement, an upstanding actuating member movably mounted on said element and adapted for actuation by the operator, force trans-Y mitting means connected between said member and saidy vehicle whereby a propelling force isr imparted to said vehicle for movement of the vehicle throughl a predetermined distance upon movement of said member, and resilient means for biasing said element upwardly with relation to said` vehicle whereby said element moves upwardly when freefrom operator weight for repositioning along the ground and a subsequent propelling force.

6. A propulsion device for a track-supported vehicle including a tracky vehicle, a ground-engaging element adapted to receive andv support an operator thereon,

whereby the weight of the operator is elfective to hold said element against unintended movement, a force transmitting linkage connected between said element and said vehicle, said linkage including a manually actuatable handle portion having a neutral position and capable of movement in either of two opposite directions, whereby movement of said handle portion in one direction is etective to transmit a pushing force through said linkage to said vehicle and movement in' the opposite direction is elective to impart a pulling force through said linkage to said vehicle, means for biasing said element and linkage upwardly with relation to said vehicle, and means for biasing said handleyportion toward neutral position.

7. A propulsion device for' a track-supportedvehicle including a track vehicle, a ground-engaging element adapted to receive and support an operator thereon, whereby the weight of the operator is effective to hold said element against unintended movement,V a force transmitting linkage connected with said elementY and with said vehicle, said linkage including' a manually aetuat'able handle portion having a. neutral position and capable of movement in either of tvvo opposite directions, whereby' movement of said handle portion in one direction is effective to transmit a pushing' force through said linkage to said vehicle andmovement in the opposite direction is" effective to impart a pulling force vthrough said linkage to said vehicle, means for biasing said element and linkage upwardly4 with relation to 'said vehicle, and resilient' means for' biasing said handle portion foward' neutral position in' one direction, `said element' and handle' portion being forrned'nndA adapted tov be biased' by gravity toward neutral position in the opposite direction.

References Cited in the flle of this patent UNITED YSTATES PATENTS 408,900 France ---e i Apr. 7,. 

